monday
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my heart really goes out to the people actually on the front lines in jalisco, risking their lives against corruption and violence. that part feels heavy and real.
but every five seconds there's another hyper dramatic ai generated image going viral. soldiers crying. shitty mocked up cinematic explosions. stylized grief. and it feels weird. it feels performative. real people are dying and timelines are being flooded with aestheticized tragedy. wtf?!
i understand wanting to express anger or bring awareness. but when everything becomes exaggerated digital symbolism, it can start to desensitize the reality.
so if you haven't heard what's happening in jalisco, this is why it's actually in the news. and before anyone reduces it to “mexico should fix itself,” let's talk about the nuance.
jalisco being in the headlines is not random, not simple, and not isolated. it reflects structural instability tied to cartel power.
jalisco is currently one of the primary strongholds of the cártel jalisco nueva generación (cjng), led by nemesio oseguera cervantes, known as el mencho. when news breaks about someone at that level, whether it's a confirmed event or major disruption, it doesn't just make headlines. it creates instability within an entire power structure.
cartels are more than just “bad groups.” they are systems built around territory, trafficking routes, money, loyalty networks, and fear. when leadership shifts, whether through capture, death, or rumor, power vacuums can form. internal factions compete. rival groups test boundaries. short term violence can spike.
that tension is part of why jalisco is in the news. not because citizens don't care. not because people are passive. but because dismantling a structure like that is complex and dangerous.
and it did not happen in isolation.
a significant percentage of firearms recovered in mexico have been traced back to u.s. manufacturers and trafficked south. at the same time, u.s. drug demand generates billions in revenue that sustain cartel operations. weapons move south. drugs move north. the system is interconnected.
corruption and intimidation further complicate reform. local officials, journalists, and artists face real threats. when institutions are pressured from multiple sides, “just fix it” is not a realistic solution. this is structural, shaped by economics, policy, and cross border demand.
mexico often becomes the face of immigration debates in the united states, portrayed as unstable or broken. but the reality is layered.
people do not leave because they lack pride in their heritage. they leave because safety matters. stability matters. raising children somewhere safer matters. a reason i am here.
you can love your country deeply and still recognize when staying puts your life at risk.
if we're going to talk about jalisco, cartel leadership, and migration, then we need to talk about the full picture, not just the headline version.